ASEAN's 'Dhaka committee'

The ten-nation ASEAN formally launched a “Dhaka Committee” on Wednesday to herald a new era in its relationship with Bangladesh.

Senior Correspondentbdnews24.com

Published : 3 April 2014, 03:43 AM

Updated : 3 April 2014, 05:51 AM

Dhaka sees it as a rare move by the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) because such committees are usually formed in countries that are its dialogue partners.

The Committee formally started its journey on Wednesday at a reception joined by ministers, politicians, diplomats, businessmen, and officials of the foreign ministry.

Malaysian High Commissioner Norlin Othman has been made the Chair of the ‘Dhaka Committee’.

All ASEAN countries, except Cambodia and Laos, have missions in Dhaka.

Though Bangladesh is not yet a dialogue partner of the ASEAN, its secretariat has already approved the 'Dhaka Committee'.

Foreign ministry officials in Dhaka feel this is probably a prelude to making Bangladesh a dialogue partner of the ASEAN, which is one of Asia's economic powerhouse.

Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Cambodia, and Laos are the members of the grouping that was formed in Aug 1967.

Analysts suggest Bangladesh should keep trying to become part of ASEAN.That, they say, would help Bangladesh access both technology and markets and boost its diplomatic clout.

As the ASEAN countries plan to open their markets to each other by 2015, joining it may be a boon for Bangladesh.

There are half a million workers from Bangladesh in the ASEAN countries and some like Malaysia are looking for more labour from Bangladesh, specially for its farms.

Bangladesh is at the crossroads of South and South-east Asia and also holds the key to the BCIM corridor that India and China intend to develop to connect the two Asian giants.